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Church & State

Georgia Governor Seeks Church-State Repeal

November2003AU Bulletin

Georgia's governor is pushing for an amendment to the state's
constitution to allow for government funding of religion.

For more than a century, Georgia's Constitution has barred "direct
or indirect" state funding of any religious organization, including schools.
Gov. Sonny Perdue said in early October that his administration would offer
a bill at the start of next year's legislative session including the proposed
change.

Two-thirds of both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly would
have to approve the proposal before it could be placed on the 2004 general
election ballot. A majority of voters would then have to approve the changes
to the Constitution.

In a press statement, Perdue said the amendment would allow religious
groups to receive state funds to operate programs addressing social concerns,
such as poverty and drug addiction.

"We need to amend the state Constitution to assure that these
faith-based institutions can fulfill their missions," Perdue said at a gathering
of business leaders in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in an Oct. 8
article that legal experts and state education officials argue that Perdue's
proposed amendment would also allow the state to institute a private school
voucher program.

"No matter how it's dressed up, it's still a thinly veiled attempt
to remove any barriers to putting vouchers into place," said Mechuria Chase
Williams, president of Georgia Association of Educators. "That is a slap in
the face to public educators. We will be talking to our legislators."